Broncos coach Mike Shanahan might have an official, sophisticated code name in his playbook, like power-stretch XYZ or something. But in couch-potato terms, the play is designed to run right behind left tackle Matt Lepsis, No. 78 on the Broncos’ scorecard.

On the second play of overtime, Broncos backup running back Ron Dayne took a handoff from quarterback Jake Plummer and ran toward his left tackle, where No. 78 was surging ahead. There was a mass of humanity and the large, physical Dallas Cowboys defensive linemen seemed to be holding their own.

But wait a second. Lepsis and his offensive line cohorts continued to chop their feet. Dayne kept plowing forward, shaking off a tackler with his shoulder pads, then bouncing to freedom.

When the Broncos defeated the Cowboys 24-21 in front of a national Thanksgiving Day televised audience and a boisterous, sellout crowd at Texas Stadium, the real hero was not Dayne for that 55-yard jaunt that set up a game-winning field goal by Jason Elam.

It was those guys blocking in front of him.

“How about giving Matt Lepsis some love?” Plummer said at his locker before his postgame news conference. “That guy’s been unbelievable, but just because those guys don’t talk to the media, no one writes about him. He tears up guys every week. We ran that last play right behind him.”

Right down Highway 78. Meaning no disrespect to Dayne, who was given the All-Iron Award by CBS broadcaster Phil Simms after the game, or to Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell, who generally have carried the Broncos’ ground game this season.

Nor is this meant to diminish the talents of Reuben Droughns, Clinton Portis, Olandis Gary and even Terrell Davis. But how many tailback stars do the Broncos have to create, seemingly upon a moment’s notice, before people realize this incredible running attack is not about the runners but the blockers?

“No, it is them,” said right tackle George Foster, the team’s only offensive lineman who is permitted to address the media. “We don’t have no slouch running backs, you’ve got to understand that. They just don’t throw the garbage man back there to run the ball. Don’t forget that.”

Fine, but as the Broncos improved to 9-2 and showed the football world they may well be the NFL’s best team this side of Indianapolis, there are some other names worthy of memory, from left to right: Lepsis, Ben Hamilton, Tom Nalen, Cooper Carlisle, Foster and Cornell Green.

“We’ve got a running back coach that doesn’t get any credit, either,” said Anderson, ever-humble even though he essentially was benched for fumbling inside his 10-yard line in the fourth quarter, leading to the Cowboys’ game-tying touchdown. “He’s so hard on us. Great guy, but he’s so hard on us.”

Anderson was talking about Bobby Turner, whose responsibilities include deciding which runner should be in and when.

“Just to give you an example of what I mean, when Ron broke that run off, when we get graded, he’s going to write down that he should have done more with that run,” Anderson said. “That’s how hard he is on us.”

Regulation ended in a 21-21 tie and the Broncos had only 89 yards rushing. Bell’s chest was so bruised from last Sunday’s game against the Jets coaches decided he couldn’t play. Anderson was having an off day, rushing for only 31 yards on 11 carries, so the Broncos decided to give Dayne another chance.

Dayne, remember, was the Broncos’ final-quarter hero in their season’s first victory in Week 2. But he virtually disappeared after that, getting nary a carry in the past six games.

He reappeared against the Cowboys, scoring a 16-yard touchdown that put the Broncos ahead 21-14 midway through the third quarter.

“I don’t really hold grudges or be upset about not playing, or stuff like that,” Dayne said. “Just being able to show my stuff and get out and have some fun and help my team win, I was happy.”

Dayne became the main man after Anderson fumbled in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys converted with a short, game-tying touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe to tight end Jason Witten.

Later in the fourth, the Broncos gave thanks for the errant leg of Billy Cundiff. Re-signed last week to become the Cowboys’ third kicker this season, Cundiff might push coach Bill Parcells to seek a fourth after missing a go-ahead, 34-yard yard try by hooking it left with 7:46 remaining in regulation.

“I cost us the game,” Cundiff said. “A lot of guys out there fought hard, and I lost it.”

On to overtime. After the Broncos won the coin toss, Dayne was given the ball on second-and-3 from his 39-yard line. Off he went down Highway 78, which was congested at first, but a lane eventually opened.

Dayne didn’t stop until he reached the Cowboys’ 6-yard line, and although Coach Turner will no doubt remind him he should have scored, he got the ball plenty close enough for Elam.

Besides increasing their lead in the AFC West and for the No. 2 seed in the conference, did the Broncos send a statement to all NFL contenders?

“It sure did feel like a playoff atmosphere out there,” Broncos safety John Lynch said. “I don’t know so much about a statement game, but I know when you want to do something special as a team, it’s important to prevail in these type of games.”

Extra points

TURNING POINT: Dayne’s great run

After Denver won the coin flip to start overtime, running back Ron Dayne – playing because of an injury to Tatum Bell – ran 55 yards to the Dallas 6-yard line on second-and-3 from the Denver 39. On the next play, Jason Elam kicked the game-winning 24-yard field goal.

“We knew Ron was going to get some time today, but what he ended up doing was special,” Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak said.

HIT OF THE DAY: Leveled by a Champ

In the first quarter, Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn caught a quick out pass from Drew Bledsoe for 5 yards. That’s all he got. Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey came in and crunched Glenn, causing him to flip. Once again, Bailey showed one of his greatest skills is tackling.

CRAZY PLAY OF THE DAY: Challenging punt

In the second quarter, Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun did a great job of landing a punt inside Dallas’ 5-yard line. Four Denver defenders were there but muffed the ball as it tumbled toward the end zone. Officials ruled Curome Cox did not get to the ball before it went into the end zone, resulting in a touchback. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan challenged the call, and replay showed Cox downed the ball before it touched the goal line. After the review, officials placed the ball at the 3 because that’s where the Broncos first touched it.

BESTS: Timely theft

Play: In the first quarter, Bailey came up with the game’s first big play, a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown to give Denver a 7-0 lead. It was Bailey’s second interception return for a touchdown this season and Denver’s third.

Tackle: In the first quarter, Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams made a great tackle on Julius Jones on a 1-yard run. Williams came hard from the right side and brought down Jones on the left side.

Time of possession: Dallas dominated time of possession in the first half, keeping the ball 19:44 compared with Denver’s 10:16. It was a stark contrast to Denver’s 27-0 win over the Jets, when the Broncos held the ball for more than 42 minutes.

WORSTS: Checkered flag

Penalty: Denver, leading 14-7 late in the second quarter, stopped Dallas on fourth-and-goal from the Denver 1. However, defensive tackle Gerard Warren was penalized for being offside. Given a pardon, Bledsoe easily dived in for a touchdown.

Supporter: Former Broncos great Shannon Sharpe questioned Plummer. At halftime of the CBS telecast, Sharpe said Plummer’s passing hurts Denver and that the Broncos had to establish a running game. Sharpe’s criticism of Plummer is nothing new. The two were Broncos teammates in 2003.

Sequence: Dallas’ game-tying touchdown in the second quarter was set up by two bad plays by the Broncos. First, Plummer threw an interception, breaking a streak of 229 passes without a pick. On the next play, Bledsoe connected with Glenn on a 39-yard pass to the Denver 30.

Call: In the first quarter, Broncos linebacker Al Wilson was called for roughing the passer. Officials said the 15-yard penalty was called because Wilson hit Bledsoe in the chest with his helmet. Replays showed Wilson’s contact was light.

Report card

Offense: B

The game was won on offense, of course, when little-used running back Ron Dayne rumbled 55 yards on the second play of overtime to set up a 24-yard field goal by Jason Elam. Like on defense, Denver made enough plays to win. The offense couldn’t get in a sustained rhythm and had the ball just 24:51 of the game. But it came up big when it had to despite an interception by quarterback Jake Plummer, breaking a streak of 229 attempts without being picked off, and a fumble by running back Mike Anderson at the Denver 10, which set up Dallas’ last touchdown.

Defense: B

Like the offense, the Broncos’ defense – on the field 36:30 of the game – came up big when it had to. Cornerback Champ Bailey had the first big play of the game, an interception return 65 yards for a score. Denver also had a big stop at the end of regulation, with Dallas gaining just 2 yards on three plays. Once again, Denver’s run defense came through, allowing Dallas 85 yards on 32 carries, an average of just 2.7 yards per carry.

Special teams: B

The big special-teams play of the game was a missed 34-yard field goal by Dallas’ Billy Cundiff with 7:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. His counterpart, Denver’s Jason Elam, came through when he had to with a 24-yard field goal in overtime. Like every phase of the game Thursday, the Broncos’ special teams delivered when necessary.

Coaching: A

There wasn’t much preparation time this week, but coach Mike Shanahan came through with an excellent game plan. Offensively, Denver passed just 24 times, but it came out throwing in the first quarter, which was a surprise from the ball-control offense. Defensively, the Broncos gave some exotic blitz packages that kept Dallas statue-like quarterback Drew Bledsoe off-balance most of the game.

Overall: A

Anytime a team can win on four days’ rest, it is a significant achievement. While the task was steep, the payoff was huge as the Broncos now essentially have another bye weekend. The players have three days off, then the Broncos will get an extra day of work Monday, in preparation for Kansas City. In that game, the Broncos could basically clinch the AFC West with a win, especially if San Diego loses one of its next two games.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.

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